"Since it stretches the ligaments, cracking your back could also potentially also lead to joint instability over time if you do it frequently enough — which, in turn, could increase your risk of developing osteoarthritis," says Dr. Palmer.
Gently cracking your back once every few days — or even once a day — isn't necessarily a problem. But if you're making your back go snap, crackle and pop every few hours to relieve overburdened joints, that's a sign of a repetitive stress issue that needs to be addressed, says Dr. Bang.
Do you crack your back? Sometimes there is nothing more satisfying than the release of tension followed by that little “pop.” But as great as it might feel, back adjustments are best left to medical professionals. By cracking your own back, you can make back issues worse and cause more pain, muscle strain or injury.
If you feel the need to constantly crack your back, you probably have an underlying problem with your spine. Some frequently seen problems include the following: Poor posture. Muscle imbalances.
Whenever you stretch or twist your spine, the facet joints move and align themselves, leading to an audible crack. Your tendons and ligaments may also produce a popping sound when you move them in and out of their aligned positions.
For starters, you're relieving pressure against your spine. Cracking your back can also release endorphins, which is the feel-good hormone. The pituitary gland creates endorphins to manage pain throughout the body. When you crack your back and release these endorphins, you'll experience a sense of satisfaction.
Why cracking your back is useful. The main reason why a chiropractor cracks your back is to move the spine past its everyday range of motion, thereby creating more space and freedom of movement. Whatever kind of pain or discomfort was being experienced by a patient is usually relieved by this practice.
It is generally not good to walk on someone's back because you will loosen all of the joints instead of just the joints that are tight. There are self treatment exercises that are a great alternative to having someone walk on your back.
If you are constantly cracking your neck, pressure will build up in the joints. This causes the surrounding ligaments to stretch to unstable levels and the cartilage in your vertebrae to wear down. This can cause osteoarthritis, which is serious, irreversible and painful. It also causes even greater stiffness.
While it's probably okay to occasionally self-crack your neck or back, don't have a friend do it for you, because they could apply too much pressure and cause injury. When you're talking about your spine, you want to be careful — so only get your back or neck adjusted from a licensed chiropractor or physical therapist.
Another type of side sleeping — with your legs bent upwards — is less ideal for your back. Known as the fetal position, it may be the most popular sleep style, but it promotes an uneven distribution of weight that can cause back pain and sore joints.
Caption Options. If you're feeling the need to crack your back, it's probably because your joints are out of alignment and it's affecting the area around them. “When joint restrictions exist, it's common that the surrounding muscles will tighten around that region, which unfortunately increases the stiffness,” David W.
Back popping or crunching
Feeling a crunching or hearing a popping sound when bending or arching the back are signs that cartilage may have worn away and is not protecting the facet joints from friction. The medical term for this symptom is "crepitus."
External tests. Sometimes to know how and where to adjust, a chiropractor will want external tests. Chiropractors may order x-rays, CT scans, or an MRI to make certain that your chiropractic neck or back adjustment is safe and likely to help.
A good rule of thumb is that massage therapy could be just the thing you need if your concern is muscular pain or tension. If you have been experiencing joint, spinal, or musculoskeletal pain, consulting a chiropractor may be in order.
Why does cracking your knuckles and joints feel good? Cracking our joints releases chemicals called endorphins which can ease pain and induce a sense of pleasure. As a result, it feels as though tension dissipates in our joints.
Studies have shown that occasionally cracking your back can help relieve pressure in your spine without adverse effects. However, when done habitually, popping can cause excessive wear on your joints and potentially lead to premature breakdown.
The cracking, clicking or popping noise is caused when the facet joints in the spine are opened up in the course of the manipulation. The process is just as it is when your knuckles or your knees click.